Name derivation:

Classification:

Order Lamiales;Family Plantaginaceae (earlier
Hippuridaceae

Dicot

Morphology:

Extend 20-30 cm above water surface.Leaves are arranged in whorls of 6-12, each
leaf up to 3 mm wide and 2.5 cm long. The leaf number per whorl increases continuously with increasing size of the apical meristem (Rutishauser 1999).

Flowers, inconspicuous without sepals and petals, are sessile, located singly in axils
of whorled leaves. Rhizomatous, with roots that transmit methane to leaves
and then atmosphere from anoxic organic sediments.Fruits are achenes 2 mm long.